FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, VISIT OUR LIVE BLOG HERE ON WEATHER CONDITIONS AND IMPACTS:
https://www.kxxv.com/news/local-news/in-your-neighborhood/winter-blast-blog-weather-conditions-and-impacts-across-central-texas
FRIDAY, JAN 23
Matt Hines' winter storm update, 5 p.m.:
A winter storm will affect Central Texas and the Brazos Valley this weekend. The worst of the storms will arrive Saturday night into Sunday morning.
Mayborn Museum Complex closure:
The museum will be closed this Saturday and Sunday due to severe winter weather. Officials say the museum will reopen as soon as conditions allow.
Brazos County Disaster Declaration Issued:
Brazos County Judge Duane Peters has signed a disaster declaration for the county due to severe winter weather conditions.
This declaration will assist in accessing state resources, if needed, to alleviate emergency situations caused by the potential ice storm.
This emergency declaration is good for a week based on Judge Peters' signature, and can be extended by the commissioners court if needed or canceled by the Judge.
Road and bridge closures in Killeen:
Several bridges, roads, and facilities will be closed in Killeen due to weather. Click the Facebook link below to see the full list:
Bell County Animal Shelter closure:
The Bell County Animal Shelter will be closed on Saturday, Jan. 24 and Sunday, Jan. 25 due to inclement weather.
Axtell ISD announces school delays for Monday:
The school district says classes will begin at 10 a.m. and bus routes will be delayed by two hours.
Officials say if there's a loss of power or water, classes may be canceled on Monday.
Warning update:
An Ice Storm Warning is in effect for Freestone and Leon counties starting at midnight through Sunday at noon.
Hill Country court changes:
The Hill County Courthouse and other facilities will be closed on Monday.
The jury that was scheduled to be picked on Monday has been postponed until Tuesday.
Texas A&M University shares updates to weather impacts:
Changes to Main Campus weekend operations: https://tx.ag/JanOperations
In the event main campus operations and classes for Monday, Jan. 26, need to be altered, an update will be communicated via Code Maroon no later than 6 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 25.
Noon update from Meteorologist Josh Johns:
Friday -all rain, temperatures will fall tonight, but likely stay above freezing.
Saturday morning - Temperatures fall close to freezing near Waco-Temple-Killeen.
Saturday - freezing line works into the highway 79 corridor. While precip may be lighter, we could still see more ice accumulate.
Saturday night - Everyone drops below freezing before the second and main round moves in. This will be our biggest time frame for ice to accumulate.
Sunday - sleet transitions to some light snow, but bitter cold moves in as temperatures will be in the 20s with wind chills in the single digits.
Monday morning - coldest temperatures settle in as lows fall into the single digits and feel-like temperatures drop below zero.
Robertson County prepares to open center:
Robertson County will activate the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) tomorrow afternoon.
BCS Library closures:
The BCS Libraries will be closed Saturday, January 24 & Sunday, January 25.
Saturday flights canceled at Killeen airport:
Mobile food pantry canceled in Temple:
Meteorologist Josh Johns shares a forecast update on Friday morning.
See Josh's timeline and ice accumulation forecast here: https://www.kxxv.com/weather/arctic-front-arrives-this-afternoon-ushering-in-weekend-winter-storm
THURSDAY, JAN 22
Evening Forecast Update with Chief Meteorologist Matt Hines:
Senior Neighborhood Reporter Bobby Poitevint talks with Lacy Alexander Emergency Management Coordinator for Hamilton County winter weather preparation.
Watch their conversation here:
Franklin cheer competition rescheduled
Zoo closure
Cameron Park Zoo will close on Saturday and Sunday due to weather, but a small number of staff will remain onsite to care for the animals.
Baylor game changes
Waco Park Closures:
Due to the weekend winter weather and cold temperatures, the City of Waco said all parks and recreation facilities will be closed on Saturday and Sunday.
This includes facilities like community centers, Cottonwood Creek Golf Course and the Waco Mammoth National Monument.
Park restrooms will also be closed and programs like youth basketball leagues and park ranger hikes are canceled.
Extreme Cold Warning in effect
From Saturday at 6p.m. to Monday at noon in Mills, Hamilton, Bosque and Hill counties, according to the National Weather Service. Bell, Coryell, Freestone, Lampasas, McLennan, and Limestone are also included.
View all weather alerts here: https://www.kxxv.com/weather/alerts
CCE Classes cancelled at St. Francis on the Brazos this weekend due to bad weather.
Afternoon Winter Weather forecast update with meteorologist Josh Johns:
City of Hearne opens warming center:
The City of Hearne announced it is opening the Teal Center to the public as a warming center on Friday, Jan. 23 at noon.
The Teal Center is located at 1302 Milton Street in Hearne, and will be open until Tuesday, Jan. 27 at noon.
Water will be provided at the warming center.
The city will have large equipment available to respond to city roads, bridges, property that have reports of ice and other reports of emergencies as well as other personnel on standby to respond to reports of water and electrical outages.
The Hearne Police Department will field calls for the city after normal business hours and through the weekend. Officers will conduct patrols of the Teal Center each morning, afternoon, and evening while it's open.
The city said TxDOT has started pretreating roads on Highway 6 and Highway 190 and crews will be working two shifts on Friday and Saturday, continuing to pretreat the highways on both days.
Winter Storm Warning issued:
A Winter Storm Warning has been issued to begin 6:00 a.m. Saturday. It is currently set to expire at noon Sunday for Central Texas.
Texas DPS briefs with Gov. Greg Abbott, state agencies:
Gov. Greg Abbott met with Colonel Freeman F. Martin and other state leaders and agencies on Thursday to discuss the upcoming winter weather.
Leaders talked about resources and assets Texas DPS has across the state to keep communities safe as weather conditions develop.
Click here for more information from the Texas Department of Emergency Management.
Youth shelter available in Bell County:
Youth Peace and Justice Foundation will activate 24-hour shelters for youth ages 13–18 and families affected by unsafe conditions from Jan. 24 - 26.
Locations are confidential - contact for access.
Phone: (254) 499-8027
uvaldefoundationforkids@gmail.com
www.theuvaldefoundation.com [theuvaldefoundation.com]
Lake Bryan closed during winter weather:
Lake Bryan will not be open to the public starting Friday evening through Tuesday morning.
Abbott press conference on winter weather:
Waco warming center:
The Waco Multi-Purpose Center will be open Friday evening through Tuesday morning.
West PD Shelter update:
The Police Department will be opening a Warming Center at the West Community-Senior Center this weekend.
Cemetery closure:
The Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen will close Saturday and Sunday due to expected weather conditions.
Band auditions moved:
Rosebud-Lott Middle School is rescheduling CENTEX auditions from Friday to Wednesday, January 28.
Farmers Market canceled:
The Aggieland Farmers Market will be closed Saturday due to weather out of caution.
Freestone County warming shelters:
• Fairfield Senior Services Center
201 N. Bateman Rd
Fairfield, TX 75840
• Southern Oaks VFD
120 Southern Oaks Dr
Streetman, TX 75859
• Streetman VFD
219 E. Main St.
Streetman, TX 75859
• Dew ISD Gym
606 County Road 481
Teague, TX 75860
• Corinth Baptist Church FLC
121 FM 489 W.
Teague, TX 75860
If a shelter loses power, alternate locations with power will be setup, if available.
Forecast update and questions answered:
Josh Johns is hosting a Facebook live to bring you more information on the upcoming winter weather forecast and answer viewer questions. You can watch it on Facebook here.
Morning forecast update:
The cold is coming! Watch the forecast below or read it here: https://www.kxxv.com/weather/foggy-start-to-thursday-still-tracking-weekend-winter-storm
THE BREAKDOWN:
- Foggy start to Thursday, but expect clouds to be around.
- Rainy and wet Friday with a cold front.
- Icy impacts begin Saturday.
- Very cold to start the week.
WEDNESDAY, JAN 21
Winter Weather Preparations:
Facebook Live with Senior Neighborhood reporter Bobby Poitevint and Ryan Dirker, Emergency Management Coordinator with Waco McLennan County at 7 p.m. and hear the latest forecast from our Chief Meteorologist Matt Hines at 9 p.m.
Evening forecast:
Hotels available in Waco during the Winter Weather:
The Waco Tourism Public Improvement District (Waco TPID) has compiled a list of hotels currently open and available from Friday, Jan. 23 through Monday, Jan. 26, featuring either maintained power during past severe storms or were built after those events.
Below is a list of the 12 hotels on the Waco TPID list:
- Camp Fimfo - (254) 651-3697
- Courtyard by Marriott – (254) 752-8686
- EVEN – (254) 633-3836
- Everhome Suites – (254) 265-9983
- Hilton Garden Inn – (254) 633-4233
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Waco South – (254) 732-1028
- Home2 Suites – (254) 752-4400
- Homewood Suites by Hilton – (254) 644-4663
- La Quinta Inn Downtown Waco – (254) 756-2929
- Springhill Suites Waco – (254) 301-7239
- Super 8 – (254) 754-1023
- Woodspring Suites Waco South – (254) 777-8319
The city says these hotels provide critical options for visitors caught in the storm, as well as local residents seeking shelter from the cold.
To better prepare for increased demand, many area hotels are taking proactive steps:
- Reserving rooms for staff to remain onsite and serve guests throughout the storm
- Stocking up on extra supplies to meet last-minute needs
- Monitoring icy sidewalks and parking areas to ensure guest safety
Potential shelter from West PD:
The West Police Department says it could open a Warming Center at the City of West Community Center, with department staff available to assist. The department says it will depend on the forecast, but snacks will be accepted.
Gatesville center closed:
The Gatesville Bulk Trash and Recycling Center will be closed on Saturday January 24.
Aggieland Safari preps:
Aggieland Safari says it will have small teams of its animal care staff on-site despite severe weather to make sure all animals are safe. The site may close for one or more days as a precaution.
The site is also accepting heaters and livestock water warmers.
Afternoon weather update:
The latest model runs indicate a significant shift from earlier predictions, with temperatures now forecast to struggle falling below freezing until Saturday. This change means the first round of heavy precipitation may fall as rain rather than ice, which meteorologists say is beneficial for the region.
Extreme Cold Watch issued:
An Extreme Cold Watch has been issued for parts of Central Texas, starting at 6:00 p.m. Saturday.
- Mills
- Hamilton
- Bosque
- Hill
- Navarro
- Freestone
- Lampasas
- Coryell
- Bell
- McLennan
- Falls
- Limestone
- Leon
- Milam
- Robertson
You can view all active alerts here: https://www.kxxv.com/weather/alerts
Harker Heights library closure:
The Harker Heights Public Library will be closed on Saturday due to expected inclement weather arriving Friday night, with hopes to reopen for normal hours on Monday, Jan. 26 at 9 a.m.
Midday weather update:
Facebook Live with meteorologist Josh Johns:
Store shelves in Waco:
A look at the water isle at H-E-B on Wooded Acres. Water is available, but as you can see, there's been a run on water. These photos were taken around 10:30 a.m.
Clifton PD offers assistance:
The department is offering patrol officers to assist with resident preparations ahead of winter winter.
Robinson Soccer game rescheduled:
Robinson ISD announced it is rescheduling Friday's soccer games due to the possibility of inclement weather.
Meridian trash service change:
The Bulk Trash Day for the City of Meridian has been canceled. The next event is February 7.
Killeen warming center information:
Friends in Crisis at 412 E. Sprott St will open a warming center Friday starting at 3:00 p.m. and remain open until 11:00 a.m. Tuesday.
City of Temple preps:
The City of Temple shared some reminders about how to prepare for winter weather conditions.
Animal owners across Central Texas are making preparations to care for them in the cold. 15 ABC's Kenny Graves checked out the situation developing in Grimes County.
Josh Joshs on Facebook Live on Wednesday morning: Josh's live forecast
The rain moving through Central Texas on Wednesday comes ahead of freezing temperatures and moisture starting Friday. You can follow Meteorologist Josh Johns on Facebook for updates.
Oncor winter weather preps:
Oncor announces preparations for winter weather this weekend.
The company says its service area could be impacted between Friday afternoon and Sunday night.
Oncor says ice accumulating on power lines or trees can pull them down due to increased weight. The ice can increase the weight of a tree branch by 30 times — while only half an inch of ice can add 500 pounds to power lines.
The company is:
- Mobilizing inventory
- Expanding the number of available working crews
- Increased tree trimming
TUESDAY, JAN 20
Facebook Live with Senior Neighborhood Reporter Bobby Poitevint and Meteorologist Melissa Terrazas:
Entergy Texas preps for winter weather:
Entergy Texas crews are taking proactive steps as winter weather moves across the state.
"Our teams are ready and closely monitoring conditions We're adjusting resources based on the latest forecasts to help ensure reliable service."
Entergy Texas said each year before temperatures drop, crews prepare and winterize its systems by:
- Protecting and insulating critical equipment to withstand colder temperatures
- Inspecting and maintaining generation units, substations and transmission lines
- Clearing right-of-way areas to reduce the risk o outages from fallen trees or branches
Leon County warming shelters:
- Buffalo at the Senior Nutrition Center.
- Centerville at the Senior Nutrition Center.
- Leona at the Community Room next to Leona VFD.
- Normangee at the Coummunity Center on OSR.
Leon County Emergency Management says more updates will be shared Wednesday.
Melissa's forecast update:
Late Friday into early Saturday, any rain will begin to either fall as sleet or freezing rain. Any chances for snow will be greater for our northernmost counties.
Get the full forecast here.
Belton irrigation system tips:
Did you know irrigation systems need to be winterized?
The city shared a video on steps to take.
Copperas Cove ISD athletic change:
The HS Basketball and Soccer games against vs Bryan, set for Friday, are now on Thursday.
Killeen ISD athletics change:
KISD boys middle school basketball games scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 22 have been canceled, with the season resuming Jan. 29.
District 12-6A junior varsity and varsity basketball and soccer games (Harker Heights, Killeen, Shoemaker) are now happening Thursday, Jan. 22, beginning at their originally scheduled start times.
Bryan Texas Utilities alert:
BTU has started preparations to respond to any outages that may arise during winter weather.
Governor activates emergency response resources:
Governor Greg Abbott has directed Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to activate state emergency response resources ahead of potential winter weather.
- Texas Department of Transportation: Winter weather roadway equipment and crews pre-treating and treating roadways; personnel and equipment to assist with traffic control and road closures
- Texas Division of Emergency Management: The State of Texas Incident Management Team; personnel working with local partners to update warming center maps
- Texas National Guard: High-profile vehicles and personnel to support stranded motorists
- Texas A&M Forest Service (Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System): All-Hazard Strike Teams consisting of firefighters, engines, and equipment such as motor graders to assist with snow/ice clearance; saw crews
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department: Game Wardens to support local law enforcement; high-profile vehicles to assist stranded motorists
- Public Utility Commission of Texas: Power outage monitoring and coordinating with utility providers across the threat area
- Railroad Commission of Texas: Monitoring of the state’s natural gas supply and communication with the oil and gas industry
- Texas Commission on Environmental Quality: Air/water/wastewater monitoring
- Texas Department of Public Safety: Texas Highway Patrol Troopers to patrol Texas roadways
- Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (Public Works Response Team): Personnel to assist with public works needs
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service: Disaster Assessment and Recovery Agents
- Texas Department of State Health Services (Emergency Medical Task Force): Winter and Severe Weather Packages including medics and ambulances
- Texas Health and Human Services Commission: Personnel to provide information on available services through the 2-1-1 Texas Information Referral Network
- Texas Education Agency: Monitoring school district needs across the state
- Texas Department of Information Resources: Monitoring technology infrastructure
Winter storm watch:
A Winter Storm Watch has been issued for parts of Central Texas, starting Friday afternoon.
Impacted counties include:
- Mills
- Hamilton
- Bosque
- Hill
- Navarro
- Freestone
- Lampasas
- Coryell
- Bell
- McLennan
- Falls
- Limestone
- Leon
- Milam
- Robertson
Matt's forecast update:
The models today continue to come in with the possibility of a significant winter storm starting Friday evening and lasting through Sunday. Right now, it appears we could see significant amounts of freezing rain and sleet.
Don't go raiding store shelves, but I would get an extra 1-2 days of supplies on your next grocery trip.
Coolidge ISD athletic change:
Varsity basketball games on Friday night will be rescheduled to 1:00 p.m.
Emergency Shelter in Waco:
The Salvation Army provides an emergency shelter at 300 Webster Ave. in Waco.
The shelter is seeking donations:
- Bottled water
- Ground coffee
- Grab-and-go snacks (individually packaged)
Oglesby ISD athletic event:
The Junior High basketball tournament in Walnut Springs has been canceled.
Thorndale ISD athletic event:
The JH Girls Basketball Tournament in Granger is rescheduled to Saturday, January 31.
Killeen preparation tip:
The City of Killeen is sharing tips on how to protect your pipes in freezing weather.
Morgan ISD game change:
The game times for Friday against Blum have been changed. Girls now play at 5:00 p.m., and boys will play after.
The JH Walnut Springs tournament has been canceled.
Forecast update:
Meteorologist Josh Johns says it now looks like the front will arrive earlier, potentially as early as Friday morning.
Texas DPS Safety Reminder:
DPS is reminding drivers and pedestrians to make preparations now ahead of the potential for freezing rain and ice.
Find tips to stay safe on the road and at home, here: https://bit.ly/3LX6ssB.
McGregor VFD Safety Reminder:
The McGregor Volunteer Fire Department is reminding the community not to plug space heaters into extension chords or power strips during winter weather, as it could cause a fire. It's suggested to plug space heaters directly into an electrical outlet that is on the wall.
"Also, you might want to consider insulating your outside faucets / spigots, or any lines that carry water that will be exposed to the cold. Freezing could cause the lines to bust," McGregor VFD said.
Hubbard ISD delays prom:
The Hubbard Independent School District is postponing prom due to safety concerns.
Prom 2026 is now scheduled for Saturday, February 14th.
TxDOT Winter Weather Operations:
TxDOT Waco District crew will proactively mobilize on Wednesday, Jan. 21 to start early brine application on state roads in McLennan, Bell, Hill, Falls, Bosque, Hamilton, Limestone, and Coryell counties.
Crews will apply brine, which is a salt and water mixture that can help slow initial icing on pavement, on all major state roadway travel lanes, including I-35 and I-14 Wednesday through Friday.
Starting Friday, crews will transition to 24-hour operations through the end of the projected wintry weather. All operations are dependent on weather and crews will adjust as conditions warrant.
Athletic events change, Gatesville:
The Boys Basketball A-Team Tournament is now scheduled for Jan 30-31
Soccer games scheduled Friday against Hillsboro are now planned for Thursday.
The JV round-robin on Saturday is canceled.
Opening celebration delayed:
The Tim Hortons new location at 3706 Texas Avenue in Bryan is delaying its grand opening celebration due to anticipated winter weather. The event will be rescheduled for a future date.
